Warring Factions is not based on turns like traditional browser strategy games, but simulates a real time strategy environment. Everything you do in this game is instant. Functions that are bound to a time frame, for example ship building, are controlled by background logic tasks, most of which run every minute to give the game a real time appearance.
The complex economy for each colony is computed every game day or 24 real minutes. Battles are processed on demand, whenever a fleet attacks another. All ships fire once every battle tick, which happens every minute. Just like in other real-time strategy games, combat takes time, but happens in real-time. Other fleets can join an ongoing fight or overwhelmed combatants can try to retreat, giving combat a very real feel.